Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Finally reached a point where an update was warranted. I have been working on fitting the Aires canopy interior framing to the kit piece which required adding a piece to the front as they did not provide the front framing only sides and back. This also required reshaping it the fit the fuselage in the closed position as it was meant to be in the open position. I also decided to reshape the windscreen center armored glass as this was too narrow from my point of view. I though about just sanding away the molded lines but then decided on filling out the center section to the shape I wanted and replacing it with a fitted piece that I would be able to tint green prior to installing. I included several photos for your thoughts. Barry Derek B, sandokan and Marcel111 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 View of aft canopy bulkhead. I had to add a strip tothe top of the Aires piece to close it out. sandokan and Derek B 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Exterior view of fitted frame. Marcel111, Derek B and sandokan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 The windscreen was the real challenge. After removing the center section I carved a flange into the edge of the opening at a depth of .020 x .025 to give me a mounting surface for the new center section. I then glued strip styrene of .010 x .030 to the inner surface to create the interior frame and give me more support for the flange. I then added another strip of .010 x .040 contouring it the first piece to create the upper interior framing for the side glasses. I also had to add to the bottom of the center piece on the interior because I cracked the kit piece there while handling it during the sanding away of the molded framing. Derek B, sandokan and Marcel111 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 View of interior framing. Derek B, sandokan and Marcel111 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Side view, the interior framing looks a little rough (glue) for the exterior but that will clean up when painted. Marcel111, Derek B and sandokan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Here's what I get for my efforts. Derek B, Marcel111 and sandokan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Next Marcel111, Derek B and sandokan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 The complete effect. Derek B, Marcel111 and sandokan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 The whole enchilada! Marcel111, sandokan, Derek B and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 You got mad skills my friend! Loving this build and your A-7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big matt Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 That is nuts Barry. What clean work. If I tried it that canopy would be opaque. Crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Bryan, Matt thank you for your kind words. It was completely opaque after I sanded all the molded detail lines off. After about 3 hours of polish sanding in running water I then polished it with Novus’s polishing system then buffed it looks pretty good. There are still some fine scratches that I will sand and polish out once I am thru handling it; then coat it in Future. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 The whole enchilada! OUT-FLIPPIN'-STANDING.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firecaptain Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Continued great work Barry...... Anyone working on Fisher's F-8 conversion? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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